digitalions

Hello HN,

I'm a software developer with ADHD who just launched adhdhelp.app — a web app offering immediate, evidence-backed strategies to cope with common ADHD modes (overwhelm, anxiety, task block, etc.). Most of the core features are ad-free and account-free; a $5/month opt-in lets you access more exercises and sounds.

When I shared the project here about two days ago, the discussion was centered on two grievances:

Pricing. Some thought any paywall was unfair, even at €5. In this niche I've not found anything cheaper, but I invite suggestions on how to structure freemium without losing users.

AI artwork. Blog posts and in-app graphics use AI-created artwork (cleared with each author). Commenters have argued I should be using human artists instead, and a few assumed the coping skills were AI-generated as well (they're not — they're compiled from CBT/DBT papers and linked on the site).

My questions to the community:

Is AI artwork a deal-breaker for you in a product like this?

Does it affect your belief in the underlying material or morals of the project?

For solo developers on budgets that are limited, what choices strike a good balance between aesthetics, cost, and principle?

Thanks for your thoughts — they will have a direct influence on how I go on to further develop the app.

Hi all. Some days I shared a link to my project, https://adhdhelp.app, here on Hacker News. I have ADHD and developed the app to help individuals like me manage everyday symptoms. The post created a lot of heat on two fronts. First, some did not like the fact that I offer a premium level. It's 5$ a month, and the majority of the necessary tools are still free, even without an account. I know of no one in this niche asking less than this, but the backlash was horrible nonetheless.

The larger backlash was the AI artwork in my blog. Each picture was cleared with the writer of the article, but several commenters stated I should have hired a freelancer instead. The project is funded independently; paying for art per post would draw my budget quickly dry, and I intend to release a great deal.

Several individuals also assumed that if pictures are AI-created, then the therapeutic techniques must be AI-created as well. They're not. I accumulated them over months, cross-checked the research, and added a page on the website that cites the science that supports each technique.

So I'm posing the question to the community: are AI images really such a game changer? Do they render useless the value of a tool that already helps users? I'd love to know where your line is and how indy builders like me can meet expectations without sinking the ship.

Hi all. Yesterday I shared a link to my project, https://adhdhelp.app, here on Hacker News. I have ADHD and developed the app to help individuals like me manage everyday symptoms.

The post created a lot of heat on two fronts. First, some did not like the fact that I offer a premium level. It's 5$ a month, and the majority of the necessary tools are still free, even without an account. I know of no one in this niche asking less than this, but the backlash was horrible nonetheless.

The larger backlash was the AI artwork in my blog. Each picture was cleared with the writer of the article, but several commenters stated I should have hired a freelancer instead. The project is funded independently; paying for art per post would draw my budget quickly dry, and I intend to release a great deal.

Several individuals also assumed that if pictures are AI-created, then the therapeutic techniques must be AI-created as well. They're not. I accumulated them over months, cross-checked the research, and added a page on the website that cites the science that supports each technique.

So I'm posing the question to the community: are AI images really such a game changer? Do they render useless the value of a tool that already helps users? I'd love to know where your line is and how indy builders like me can meet expectations without sinking the ship.

Hello again, everyone. This is the author of the app. To be honest, I did not expect such a strong reaction. Thank you all for the feedback. I would like to clarify a couple of things.

Yes, I have ADHD. I'm making this site primarily to help me and my friends.

Yes, there's a paid subscription. By the way, it's the cheapest of all these apps. Well, and it's a fremium model. Most of the functions can be used even without registration. And no, I'm not trying to make money off of ADHD people for nothing. I really want to help.

Yes I use AI generated images for blog posts. They were agreed with the authors of the posts as reflective. I didn't realize that a lot of people didn't like it so much.

No I didn't use AI to mindlessly come up with self-help techniques. I've been collecting them for years of my life. I looked them up in magazines and so on. It's evidence-based. I'll add a page of proof.

Yes I absolutely need to better the UI as well as add a dark theme. I've already found a designer I know.

Yes the app is already being used by ADHD and it's already helping.

So thank you all very much.

Thank you. I didn't even know people were so negative about AI pictures.

Thank you. I didn't even realize so many people wouldn't like these pictures. I think they really fit the articles.

Thank you!

I have ADHD myself. Honestly, I'd like to make a service that will help everyone. To do that, I need money. I think that 5 dollars a month is not so much nowadays.

I have ADHD myself. I do a lot of my service based on my experience and the experience of others with ADHD.

I'm just a bad designer so I decided to generate the images. :)

The blog is written by real people. So do the techniques. I'm just a bad designer so I decided to generate the pictures. But actually I have diagnosed ADHD myself and all the techniques are all I've collected all my life.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm a bad UI designer. But I've already found one and will make the UI better soon!

Thank you! For now, there are customization options only for background sounds. But in the future there will be an intelligent system for selecting self-help techniques. And you can take a short test to find out your current state.

Hi HN! I've built ADHD Help, a simple yet powerful web app designed to help manage common ADHD-related states like anxiety, procrastination, irritability, overwhelm, hyperactivity, and distraction.

The app offers:

Interactive Coping Techniques: Immediate guided steps for calming anxiety, managing procrastination, and handling emotional overwhelm using CBT, DBT, and mindfulness methods.

Ambient Sound Mixer: Customize and layer soothing background noises (nature, white noise, café sounds) to enhance focus or relaxation.

Quick ADHD Self-Test: A quick screening to help identify ADHD symptoms.

Curated Blog: Practical articles, personal insights, and evidence-based advice on living better with ADHD.

Would love your feedback and thoughts!

Check it out here: https://adhdhelp.app

Hey everyone, I’m Viktor, and I’ve lived with ADHD my whole life. After dealing with all the ups and downs—distractibility, hyperfocus, and everything in between—I put my personal experiences into building a web app that’s all about helping others navigate ADHD.

It’s not a task manager or anything like that. Instead, it offers practical tips on managing symptoms and includes a free ADHD self-assessment test. My goal is to make it easier for folks like us to understand our challenges and find quick, actionable advice.

If you’re curious, feel free to check it out! I’d love any honest feedback or suggestions, especially since I know how important it is to have ADHD-friendly tools. Let me know your thoughts, and I hope it can be helpful for some of you out there!

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate your time and support.